Bottle-capping machine.



F. W. DAFOE.

BOTTLE GAPPING MAGHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

984,649, Patented Feb. 21, 191,1.

J7 j?, *Zij/1 I l r v jf '--Z-#M\\2. IQ *Z5 j a 25W Witnesses FRED W. DAFOE, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE-Cnrplus MACHINE.

Specification' of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed May 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,123.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED W. Denon, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Bottle-Capping Machine, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention, to provide in a simple, merchantable, and inexpensive form, a device whereby crown seals may be mounted upon bottles of different heights.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for holding the bottle which is to be capped.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capping plunger of novel and improved form, and to devise a novel form of supporting bracket in which the capping plunger is mounted for reciprocation, the bracket being adapted to limit the downward movement of the plunger.

The drawings show typical embodiments merely, and it is to be understood that changes, properly falling within the scope of what is claimed, may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation, parts being brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the support; Fig. 3 is a vertical section upon the line 3-3 of Fig. l, parts, however, be

ing shown in elevation; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The support upon which the operating portions of the device are mounted, comprises a base plate 1, preferably formed with an integral collar 2, into which is inserted a set screw 3, adapted to engage the lower end of the standard 4, when the same is inserted into the collar 2. Adjacent the collar 2, the standard 4 is provided with a bayonet slot 5, having, at its ends, extensions 6, disposed substantially parallel to the body portion of the bayonet slot, and defining, in the standard 4, lugs 31, located adjacent the upper and lower ends of the bayonet slot 5.

A bottleesupporting platform 7 is provided, the same'having a collar 8 adapted to inclose, slidably, the standard 4. Extending into the interior of the collar 8 is a projection 9. This projection 9 is adapted to move in the bayonet slot 5. The platform 7 is recessed slightly upon its upper face, as denoted by the numeral 10, in order to retain the bottom of the bottle upon the platform.

A guide l1 is provided, the same being arcuate in outline, and approximately semicircular in shape, as seen most clearly in Fig. 4. This guide 11 is provided, intermediate its ends, with a collar 12, adapted' to inclose and slide upon the standard 4, above the bottlc-supporting platform l0. In this collar 12, there may be mounted a set screw 14, whereby the guide may be clamped at predetermined positions along the standard 4.

At its upper end, the standard 4 is bent over, as shown at 15. A lever 16 is pivoted at one end, as shown at 17, upon the extremity 15 of the standard. Intermediate its ends and relatively near to the standard 4, the lever 16 is enlarged, as seen at 18. There is an opening in the lower face of this enlargement 18, adapted to receive the Hattened upper end 19 of the neck 2O of the capping plunger 23. A pivot element 22 is extended through the flat-tened portion 19 of the capping plunger, this pivot element moving in a slot 21, extended longitudinally of the lever 16, and located in the enlarged portion 18 thereof.

In order to support the capping plunger 23, and to limit and direct its movement, a supporting bracket is provided. This supporting bracket comprises vertically spaced curvilinear members 24 and 25, the lower of which members, denoted by the numeral 25 is of considerably less radius than the superposed member. The ends of the curvilinear members 24 and 25, are connected by spaced guides 26, vertically positioned. The intermediate portions of the curvilinear members 24 and 25 are connected by a rib 27, this rib 27 carrying a head 28 which is adapted to inclose the standard 4. For convenience in description, this supporting bracket has been divided into constituent elements, but it is to be understood that the bracket is a one-piece structure, comprising the elements 28, 27, 25, 24 and 26.

There are oppositely disposed upright slots 32 in the outer wall of the capping plunger 23, these slots 32 being adapted to receive the guides 26, so that the capping plunger may reciprocate vertically in the supporting bracket of which the guides are a component part. As seen to best advantage in Fig. 3, the capping plunger is provided in its lower end with a recess 29, the side wall of the capping plunger being cut away adjacent its lower end, as denoted by the numeral 30 in Fig. l, to provide for the ready insertion of the crown seal into the capping plunger.

The operation of the device is as follows. The bottle-supporting plat-form 7 is first adjusted, to accommodate the bottle which is to be capped. If, for instance, a pint bottle is to be capped, the platform 7 will be disposed as shown in Fig. l in solid lines. If, however, a longer bottle, such, for instance, as a quart bottle is to be capped, the platform will be disposed as shown in dotted line in Fig. l. It will be seen that, in moving the platform from one position to another, the projection 9 will slide readily in the bayonet slot 5, and by rotating the platform slightly, the projection 9 may be made to lodge in the extensions 6 of the bayonet slot, behind the lugs 31, the platform thus being held against rotation, either at the upper end of the bayonet slot 5 or at the lower end thereof. IVhen the bottle-supporting platform 7 has thus been positioned, the bottle is mounted in place thereon, the bottom of the bottle resting within the recess l0 in the upper face of the platform. The guide 11,

obviously, may be slid upwardly or downwardly, so as to support the bottle against the guide 11 thus being positioned properly, with respect to the height of the bottle. When the bottle is thus restrained, its open end will be disposed within the contour of the lower curvilinear member 25 of the bracket. The crown seal isinserted through the opening 30 into the recess 29 of the capping plunger, and when the free end of the lever 16 is manipulated, the crown seal will be forced downwardly upon the neck of the bottle.

Then the device is not in use, as shown in Fig. l, it will be seen that the capping plunger 23 rests upon the element 25 of the bracket, the capping plunger moving freely through the upper curvilinear member 24 of the bracket. The upright guides 26 serve to direct the vertical reciprocation of the capt-ilting sidewise,

ping plunger, the pin and slotl connection 21-22 serving to give a vslight play between the operating lever 16 and the capping plunger.

Obviously, the part 25 of the bracket is fashioned upon its concave side to fit the neck of the bottle and to hold the end of the bottle neck directly beneath the capping plunger 28. By referring to Fig. 3 it will be Vseen that, as denoted by the numeral 50, the recess 29 is of slightly less radius at the top than at the bottom, in order to compress the rim of the crown seal about the end of the bott-le neck.

The operation of capping a bottle may be carried forward rapidly in the machine hereinbefore described, the crown seal being readily introduced into the recess 29 of the capping plunger, and readily seated upon the upper end of the bottle neck by manipulating the operating lever 16.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a device of the class described, a onepiece bracket comprising vertically spaced curvilinear members the lower of which is of least radius, oppositely disposed upright guides connecting the ends of the curvili`near members, a rib connecting the intermediate portions of the curvilinear members, and a head projecting from the rib; and elements independent of the said bracket, including a support engageable by the head of the bracket; a capping plunger recessed for sliding movement upon the guides, the plunger Vbeing" slidable through the upper curvilinear member of the bracket, and being adapted to rest upon the lower curvilinear member; and means connected with the sup# port and with the plunger for the operation of the latter.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED IV. DAFOE.

IVitnesses IVILLIAM L. LUDoLri-i, Bessin BAKER. 

